Understanding Telford's funding bid rejection is important, says councillor
A councillor has shared her disappointment that Telford missed out on government money to help vulnerable children and says it is important to understand why the council's bid was unsuccessful.
Councillor Nicola Lowery, Telford & Wrekin councillor for the Ironbridge Gorge, says she has written to the director of children's and adult services at the authority, requesting more information.
The authority’s bid for a slice of £13 million from the government's Trusted Relationships Fund was rejected.
The fund invited local authorities to apply for money to run projects aimed at fostering relationships between frontline staff and at-risk children.
Telford's MP Lucy Allan has claimed Telford & Wrekin Council should have asked her for support with the funding bid.
But Councillor Lee Carter, the council's cabinet lead for child sexual exploitation, responded by saying she had repeatedly been invited to be briefed on a range of issues around child sexual exploitation and that she had declined every invitation.
Clive Jones, director of children’s and adult services at the council, said it is not yet clear why the funding bid was unsuccessful.
Councillor Lowery said: “I am extremely disappointed to learn that Telford & Wrekin Council was not successful in securing this funding.
"I have written to the director of children and adult services at Telford & Wrekin Council to ensure we are kept updated on the reasons given as to why the council was not successful, a copy of the bid submitted and why the council did not consult with our Member of Parliament to lobby support on the bid with government and the appropriate ministers.
"This new government funding would have aided early intervention preventative work locally and supported our children and young people to escape and break the damaging cycle of sexual exploitation.
"It is important we understand why we were not successful, identify any shortcomings within the bid and that the council moving forward seeks to work more proactively with our Members of Parliament, as a failure to do so will only be detrimental to the borough and our local preventative work to protect our young people."
Telford & Wrekin Council has been the focus of national headlines in recent months over claims that hundreds of girls could have been groomed and abused in the town over the past 40 years.
It follows Operation Chalice, which saw seven men jailed in Telford in 2013.